5 Charming Ways to Celebrate Jane Austen
In 2025, Jane Austen fans are in for a double celebration: the 250th anniversary of the beloved author’s birth and the 20th anniversary of Joe Wright’s iconic film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. These milestones are the perfect excuse to celebrate Austen’s legacy. And what better place to celebrate than Austin, Texas—a city whose name shares a connection with the author herself? We’re spilling the tea-est tea there ever was with five ways to celebrate Jane Austen in Austin, from literary events to film screenings and more!
Here are the 5 charming ways to celebrate Jane Austen in Austin
Pride & Prejudice (2005) Rerelease in Select Theaters
Focus Features has rereleased Pride & Prejudice (2005) for the 20th anniversary. The film starred Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, Donald Sutherland, Judi Dench, and more. You can find showtimes and theaters near you by putting your zip code here. You can also watch at home; the movie is currently on Netflix and available for rent or purchase on most other streaming services. So, call your friends and boil some potatoes and make a party out of it!
Fun fact: Actress Emma Thompson, who starred in and wrote the 1995 adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, also wrote the screenplay for the 2005 Pride and Prejudice. She opted to be uncredited, but it was later discovered!
Keep Austen Weird at BookPeople
On May 4th, BookPeople is celebrating their very own Jane Austen Day! The official Jane Austen Day is the author’s birthday, December 16 but we love that Austin is keeping Austen weird! The event will have everything a Jane Austen fan could dream of (besides Mr. Darcy himself). They’ll have a scavenger hunt, where you can search for the eligible bachelors of Jane Austen’s books around BookPeople and earn a coupon for the store if you find them all. They’ll have a photo booth with a themed backdrop and props. High tea from CoffeePeople, who will have a specialized menu to fit the theme of the day. You can even bring your little ones; they’ll have a kids’ storytime with Austen-themed books and crafts. The event we’re most excited to tell you about is the regency ballroom dance lessons! You read that right. There will be three different group sessions available, one of which will be kid-inclusive.
And if you just can’t get enough Jane Austen, you can join Janine Barchas as she discusses and signs her new book, The Novel Life of Jane Austen!
Find all the details on BookPeople.com
Take a Stroll
So much of Jane Austen’s characters’ lives in the English countryside and the outdoors were a big part of Regency life. Here are some outdoor spaces we think worthy of an Elizabeth Bennet-inspired stroll. While it’s no Mansfield Park, Mayfield Park is a great place to walk and take in the peacocks and more. Barton Springs, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and Mount Bonnell are all stunning places to stroll, maybe have a picnic, or even find a nice spot to read.
Have High Tea Jane Would Be Proud of
As Fanny Price from Mansfield Park said, “But indeed I would rather have nothing but tea.” Austin surprisingly has some great high tea options. Such as The Driskill Hotel, W Hotel, Brentwood Social House, Four Seasons, Kendra Scott and Ladymoon Tea Room. Some keep it traditional and some put their unique spin on high tea. Make sure to check ahead for times and availability.
Head to a Dance Hall
While regency era dancing is outdated, dance halls in Texas are not. Regardless of whether you’re a pro looking to show off or wanting to take lessons, dance halls like Broken Spoke are the Austin equivalent to a ball at Netherfield Park. So get your boots and dance cards ready, you might just find yourself a Mr. Darcy out on the dance floor.
If you’re looking for more ways to celebrate Jane Austen on her 250th birthday, you can find everything you need here.
